Ram Those Words Down The Throats

Steven Taylor is not in the team, having dislocated his shoulder on Boxing Day. But the 20-year-old has blasted the national media for constantly making jibes at the Newcastle defence.

Taylor: 'We're looking forward to ramming the words of the Press down their throats. I'm sick of seeing us get slagged off. The first thing people look at is the defence. We take it on the chin and don't let it affect us, but I still don't feel we get enough credit.

'In recent weeks they've been absolutely magnificent and keeping clean sheets. We've kept more clean sheets (10 in the league) than we did last season (six) and I think that speaks for itself. Whenever we get beaten the defence is the first thing that gets looked at. That's got to change.

'The confidence all the way through the team has changed. Everyone's looking forward to the next game and I don't think we really had that before.

'We're playing for each other - our passing's fantastic, we defend and attack as a team, we're covering each other at the back. We've got to keep it going and not get too full of ourselves. Knowing the lads, they won't.

'Graeme Souness was fantastic for me. He gave me my (full) debut and had a lot of faith and trust in me. I hope he does well in whatever he does. It was a bit unjustified the Press he got. The players he had injured were just killing us.

'I think the week after he left we had everyone back.

'Now we're performing I'm happier but still I hate watching. It gets to me a bit. Now, every game I think, `How am I going to get back in?' But that's good. I love competition and a challenge. That's what you always need. It can only make me a better player.'